Sir David James Hamilton DicksonOSVFRSEFRCSEFRCPEFLS (1780–1850) was a Scottish naval surgeon,[1] medical author and amateur botanist, serving during the Napoleonic Wars and War of 1812 between Britain and the United States.
He joined the Royal Navy in 1799 as Britain's war with France began to escalate. Initially he served in Holland and in 1801 was posted to Egypt. He was later present at the capture of the French and Dutch islands in the West Indies. In 1806 he was formally accepted as a full doctor (MD) and became Physician and Inspector of Ships and Hospitals on the Leeward Islands in the West Indies, where he was at that time serving. On return to Britain in 1813 he was appointed Superintendent (of medical matters) to the Russian Fleet in Medway whilst also being official Physician to the British Mediterranean Fleet (a critical role at this period). The Czar of Russia awarded him the Order of St Vladimir for his contribution. In 1814 he requested a transfer from the Mediterranean to the very different climate of Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1824 he became senior Physician at the Royal Naval Hospital in Plymouth, concurrently being Inspector of Hospitals and Fleets to the entire Royal Navy.[5] His lifelong interest in botany led to his being elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society.[2] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1817. His proposers were Sir William Arbuthnot, James Russell, and James Hamilton.[5] He was knighted by King William IV on 20 August 1834.[6]
In 1840, he is listed as one of the two senior Physicians out of a total of ten at the main naval hospital in Plymouth.[7] Upon retiral from the Royal Navy (c.1841) he became a physician in Clifton, Bristol. He is thought to have fully retired around 1845 and returned to Plymouth where many of his naval friends and colleagues remained. In this period he seems to have been much responsible for the improvement of the Naval Library in Plymouth.[8]
He died at Lower Durnford Street[9] in Stonehouse, Plymouth, the main English naval port, on 2 January 1850.[10] His will is held by the National Archives at Kew.[11]
Familyedit
His third daughter, Ann Rose Honour Dickson,[12] married Rev. James Jubilee Reynolds, author of Confessions of a Pencil Case, in 1859 and did much "missionary work" to promote the integration of Jews into East End London society. She died in 1887.[4]
Dickson's son, Rev G D W Dickson MA, married Eliza Bennett Hunt in February 1861.[13]
Referencesedit
^"Dickson, Sir David James Hamilton (? 1781-1850) Knight Inspector of Hospitals RN | The National Archives". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
^ ab"Dickson". electricscotland.com. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
^"History of Bedrule, in Scottish Borders and Roxburghshire | Map and description". visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
^ ab"29 March 1887 Death of Mrs. Reynolds, CMJ volunteer #otdimjh | On This Day In Messianic Jewish History". messianicjewishhistory.wordpress.com. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
^ ab(PDF). 29 June 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
^"Munks Roll Details for David James Hamilton (Sir) Dickson". munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
^"The medical officers of the Royal Navy, 1840". pdavis.nl. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
^"JRNMS-692-107-111" (PDF). 30 July 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
^"Will of Sir David James Hamilton Dickson, Docter of Medicine, Retired Inspector of... | The National Archives". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
^Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (newspaper): 7 May 1859
david, dickson, surgeon, david, james, hamilton, dickson, frse, frcse, frcpe, 1780, 1850, scottish, naval, surgeon, medical, author, amateur, botanist, serving, during, napoleonic, wars, 1812, between, britain, united, states, david, james, hamilton, dicksonbo. Sir David James Hamilton Dickson OSV FRSE FRCSE FRCPE FLS 1780 1850 was a Scottish naval surgeon 1 medical author and amateur botanist serving during the Napoleonic Wars and War of 1812 between Britain and the United States David James Hamilton DicksonBorn1780 1780 BedruleDied1850 aged 69 70 PlymouthOther namesSir David DicksonOccupationBritish naval surgeon He was present as senior Physician looking after the British naval forces under Sir Alexander Cochrane at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 2 Life editHe was born in the manse Bedrule in the Scottish Borders in 1780 3 being the son of the local minister Rev George Dickson He was educated locally then studied Medicine at Aberdeen University He received a licence to practice medicine from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1798 4 He joined the Royal Navy in 1799 as Britain s war with France began to escalate Initially he served in Holland and in 1801 was posted to Egypt He was later present at the capture of the French and Dutch islands in the West Indies In 1806 he was formally accepted as a full doctor MD and became Physician and Inspector of Ships and Hospitals on the Leeward Islands in the West Indies where he was at that time serving On return to Britain in 1813 he was appointed Superintendent of medical matters to the Russian Fleet in Medway whilst also being official Physician to the British Mediterranean Fleet a critical role at this period The Czar of Russia awarded him the Order of St Vladimir for his contribution In 1814 he requested a transfer from the Mediterranean to the very different climate of Halifax Nova Scotia In 1824 he became senior Physician at the Royal Naval Hospital in Plymouth concurrently being Inspector of Hospitals and Fleets to the entire Royal Navy 5 His lifelong interest in botany led to his being elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society 2 He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1817 His proposers were Sir William Arbuthnot James Russell and James Hamilton 5 He was knighted by King William IV on 20 August 1834 6 In 1840 he is listed as one of the two senior Physicians out of a total of ten at the main naval hospital in Plymouth 7 Upon retiral from the Royal Navy c 1841 he became a physician in Clifton Bristol He is thought to have fully retired around 1845 and returned to Plymouth where many of his naval friends and colleagues remained In this period he seems to have been much responsible for the improvement of the Naval Library in Plymouth 8 He died at Lower Durnford Street 9 in Stonehouse Plymouth the main English naval port on 2 January 1850 10 His will is held by the National Archives at Kew 11 Family editHis third daughter Ann Rose Honour Dickson 12 married Rev James Jubilee Reynolds author of Confessions of a Pencil Case in 1859 and did much missionary work to promote the integration of Jews into East End London society She died in 1887 4 Dickson s son Rev G D W Dickson MA married Eliza Bennett Hunt in February 1861 13 References edit Dickson Sir David James Hamilton 1781 1850 Knight Inspector of Hospitals RN The National Archives discovery nationalarchives gov uk Retrieved 11 February 2016 a b Dickson electricscotland com Retrieved 11 February 2016 History of Bedrule in Scottish Borders and Roxburghshire Map and description visionofbritain org uk Retrieved 11 February 2016 a b 29 March 1887 Death of Mrs Reynolds CMJ volunteer otdimjh On This Day In Messianic Jewish History messianicjewishhistory wordpress com 29 March 2015 Retrieved 11 February 2016 a b Former Fellows of The Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783 2002 Biographical Index Part One PDF 29 June 2006 Archived from the original PDF on 24 January 2013 Retrieved 11 February 2016 Munks Roll Details for David James Hamilton Sir Dickson munksroll rcplondon ac uk Retrieved 11 February 2016 The medical officers of the Royal Navy 1840 pdavis nl Retrieved 11 February 2016 JRNMS 692 107 111 PDF 30 July 2013 Retrieved 11 February 2016 The Spectator newspaper 12 January 1850 Inverness Courier newspaper 17 January 1850 Will of Sir David James Hamilton Dickson Docter of Medicine Retired Inspector of The National Archives discovery nationalarchives gov uk Retrieved 11 February 2016 Exeter and Plymouth Gazette newspaper 7 May 1859 Norfolk Chronicle newspaper 9 February 1861 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Dickson surgeon amp oldid 1218474591, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
